Improvement in harvester-droppers



UNITED STATES J. osoAn TABER,

PATENT FFICE.

OF SALEM, OHIO.

IM PROVEM ENT IN HARVESTER-DROPPERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 86,602, dated February2, 1869.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J. OSCAR TABER, of Salem, in the county ofColumbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Harvester-Droppers, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, making a part of this specication, in which- 1 Figure l is aperspective view of a dropping-platform, taken from the rear innerncorchains, and a sprocket-wheel or segment, as

hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawing, A represents a finger-bar of a harvester, and Bthe reel-post mounted thereon, or on the usual inner shoe, in anydesired or usual manner. C is the platform, consisting in this instanceof a number of slats, c 0, arranged in lines parallel with each otherand with the path lof the machine, and connected at their forward endsto a bar, Gf, arranged behind the finger-bar, and hinged or pivotedthereto. D is a second post or upright, mounted upon the inner shoe orinner end of the finger-bar, in rear of the reel-post, as shown in thedraw-ing, Fig. 1. Said post has secured to its upper end a plate orcasting, E, provided with a tubular sleeve or bearing, E', in which ismounted the crank-wrist F of the cut-off rod F', in such manner as toturn freely therein. The outer end of said wrist or crank-arm F hasmounted upon it a sprocket-wheel, or a segment, G, thereof, keyed orotherwise secured to Wrist F, to cause it to turn therewith. H is achain, belt, or cord, secured at one end to the platform, as shown inthe drawing, and, passing over the sprocketwheel or sheave G, is securedat its opposite or forward end toa lever or treadle, within convenientposition to be operated by the hand or foot of the driver while ridingon his seat on the machine. Instead of the one chain shown anddescribed, two short chains, cords, or straps may be used, if preferred,one connecting the platform and segment sheave or sprocket-wheel, theother connecting said wheel with the operating-lever.

' The 'use of said secondary post D permits the independent adjustmentof the reel-post `when pivoted at its foot, as it frequently is,

without disturbing the proper working relation of lthe cut-of F; and thepost D `may be pivoted and made adjustable, or the casting E may be madeadjustable on said post, if desired, for adapting the cut-oif F to thevarying condition of the grain. Ordinarily, however, such necessaryadjustments of the relation of the cut-o to the cutters and platform canbe eected by the adjustment of the chain or chains relative to thesprocket-wheel.

The operation is as follows: Supposing the machine to be at work, theplatform receiving the grain as it is cut, said platform and the cut-oilare sustained about in position represented in the red lines, Fig. 2,the cut-off being thrown back and upward out of the way of the fallinggrain. When a sufficient amount has accumulated to form a bundle thedriver releases or draws back the operating-lever, when the weight ofthe platform and cut-off and of the grain upon the former causes theplatform to drop upon the stubble, and the grain is caught thereby andheld until the platform is drawn away from underneath it, leaving itdeposited on the ground. At the same instant that the platform isdropped upon the stubble the cut-off F' is also thrown downward andforward until it assumes the proper position to receive and hold thefalling grain, (see full black lines, Fig. 2,) mitil that upon theplatform has been discharged, when, the platform being raised to receiveanother gavel, the cut-oif is again thrown back out of the way,permitting the grain accumulated thereon to fall upon the platform.

It will be obvious that my improvements `may be readily applied to anyof the various reaping-machines, either rigid or hinged-bar, thesupportin g-stan dard D being mounted upon any part of the machine Whereit is usual to mount the reel-post; also, that any usual construction ofdropping-platform, or any of the usual arrangements of hand or footlever, or mechanical devices for operating the dropping-platform, may bereadily applied for operating the platform and cut-off herein shown anddescribed.

Having noW described my improvements, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A sprocket-Wheel, sheave, or segment thereof, in combination with atilting or dropping platform, for the purpose set forth.

2. The use of a sprocket-Wheel, or its equivalent, for operating thecut-off.

3. The combination of a sprocketwheel, or its equivalent, with adropping or dumping platform and out-off, for operating the same.

4. The plate E, in combination with the secondary standard D, forsupporting and adjusting the shaft of the cut-off and its actuatingdevices, as described.

5. The combination of the dropping-platform, cut-off, and actuatingchain and sheave, p

J. OSCAR TABER.

Witnesses: l

M. F. TABER, C. N. OWEN.

